Female RolesHistorical AllusionAct 2,Scene 2Lines 417-418An explanation that there were no female actors in Shakespeare's time in Act 2, Scene 2 of myshakespeare's Hamlet. Hamlet thou to beard me in Denmark? [To a young boy actor] What, my young lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer In Shakespeare's time women were not allowed to be actors; the female roles were played by young boy actors.